Wall construction of architectural structure

ABSTRACT

A wall structure of an architecture is provided, which comprises an outer wall having resistance against earthquakes and wind and an inner wall relatively inferior in the earthquake-resistance and so forth, so that the outer and inner walls are properly combined to share design loads. The wall structure includes the outer wall ( 2 ) of bricklaying structure in which bricks (A—D) and metal plates ( 51 ) are stacked. Fasteners ( 60,62,63,70 ) extending through the bolt holes ( 7 ) of the bricks are tightened, and the vertically adjacent bricks are integrally connected with each other under prestress of the fasteners. The inner wall ( 3 ) is constructed inside of the outer wall, and the shear reinforcement member ( 10,20 ) connects the inner and outer walls with each other. The inner wall is constructed by a dry type of construction method, which can support a permanent vertical load such as a roof load. A temporary horizontal load acting on the inner wall, such as a seismic force, is transmitted to the outer wall by the shear reinforcement member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wall structure of an architecture,and more specifically, to such a wall structure in the architecturewhich is provided with an outer wall of a bricklaying structureconstructed in accordance with a Distributed and Unbonded Prestress(DUP) construction method.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A variety of building construction methods are known in the art, such aswooden, reinforced concrete, steel and block masonry constructionmethods. One type of these construction methods is known as abricklaying method, in which a wall structure is constructed bybricklaying. Bricks produced by baking clay at a high temperature areevaluated highly due to their architectural design effects or aestheticeffects resulting from their exterior wall, stately appearances,feelings, colors and so forth. The bricks also exhibit their excellentphysical performances with respect to durability, sound insulationeffect, fire resistance efficiency, heat accumulation effect and soforth. Therefore, the bricks have been popularly and traditionally usedworldwide and widely employed for a long time as materials forarchitectural wall structures.

The present inventor has proposed Distributed and Unbonded Prestress(DUP) construction method as a dry type of bricklaying constructionmethod. This is a bricklaying construction method in which bricks arestacked in a multi-layered condition while prestress is introduced intothe bricks by tightening forces of metal bolts, and studies forpractical applications thereof are still continued (Japanese patentapplications Nos. 4-51893, 5-91674, 6-20659, 7-172603 and 8-43014).

In general, reduction in construction costs of a house or the like is acommon matter of concern for an owner, designer or constructor. Use ofimported materials produced in the other countries can be considered tobe effective in reduction of the construction costs. From thisstandpoint, housing materials produced in conformity to standards orspecifications in foreign countries are imported for domestic use. Thesekinds of imported materials might exhibit sufficient load-carryingcapacities with respect to a vertical load such as a dead load and alive load. However, in many cases, they are not in conformity to thedomestic standards with regard to earthquake-resistance andwind-resistance. Therefore, it is necessary to take countermeasures,such as reinforcement of the members, or employment of members withlarger cross-sections, in a case where the imported materials are to beused.

For example, as regards a conventional house, a type of constructionsuch as a framework construction or wood frame construction isdetermined, and thereafter, it is designed from a design concept inwhich the determined construction type of structure shares both apermanent load (a dead load, a live load) and a temporary load (aseismic load, a wind load). On the other hand, with regard to structuralmaterials such as two-by-four wooden panels designed and manufactured inconformity to the standard of an aseismic country, these materials areoften inadequate for domestic standards (especially, standards ofseismic countries) with respect to their strength against the seismicload, even if they can exhibit a strength against the permanent load(dead load, live load) equivalent to that of domestic structuralmaterials. As is often the case, the imported materials cannot beemployed, merely because of their insufficient strength against thetemporary horizontal load.

Also in a house with brick walls, it can be considered that inner wallsare constructed with the use of building materials having a relativelylow strength, such as imported materials or materials manufactured atlow prices, and that the inner walls are combined with outside brickwalls, whereby construction costs of a house or the like are reduced.However, in a case where a conventional brick wall is constructed usinga wet type method of construction, then it is difficult to share thetemporary horizontal load such as a seismic force acting on thearchitecture, even if the wall can support the dead load. Therefore, itis necessary to support the temporary horizontal load, utilizing theinner wall. However, it is difficult to obtain sufficient strengthagainst the temporary horizontal load such as the seismic load whenutilizing the inner wall which is made of construction materialsmanufactured in conformity to the standards and specifications offoreign countries or materials manufactured at low prices, as set forthabove. Therefore, reinforcement of the inner wall, change of designthereof, or the like, is required. As the result, the construction costsare rather increased. On the other hand, it has been found from recentresearches that the brick wall made by the DUP construction method canexhibit high strength against the temporary horizontal load. However,the brick wall using the DUP construction method is constructed so as tosupport the permanent vertical load including the load of the roof. Ifthe brick wall further shares the temporary horizontal load, the load tobe shared by the brick wall is considerably increased. Further, if thebrick wall shares both of the permanent and temporary loads, the loadsto be imposed on the inner wall is significantly reduced, and thisresults in a surplus strength of the inner wall. This is not desiredfrom an aspect of optimization of loading balance with respect torespective structural constituents of the architecture.

Further, shortening of the construction period is a common theme withrespect to all kinds of architectural structures, as well as thereduction in the costs of construction. As regards the brick wall madeby the DUP construction method, it is possible to significantly reducethe term of time required for the bricklaying works, in comparison tothe term required for conventional bricklaying works under the wet typeconstruction method. However, in regard to the brick walls ofbricklaying structure, it is necessary to perform interior finish worksafter constructing the brick walls, and therefore, the bricklayingprocess and the interior finishing process constitute a critical path ofthe whole construction schedule. In order to further shorten theconstruction schedule, an approach is necessary to enable simultaneityof the bricklaying process and the interior finishing process.

The brick wall made by the dry type of construction method (the DUPconstruction method) also allows its construction works to be carriedout in a short period of time under normal weather conditions, andmerits in shortening of the construction period can be achieved.However, the bricklaying processes for outer walls are apt to beaffected by weather, particularly rainfall. For instance, if bad weatherconditions continue for a long period of time owing to abnormal weather,a delay of the construction schedule of the bricklaying works isapprehended, regardless of the wet type of construction method or theaforementioned dry type of construction method (the DUP constructionmethod). Therefore, it is desirable to provide a measure in whichbricklaying works are enabled under circumstances unaffected by weathercondition, even when bad weathers continue.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wall structure ofan architecture which properly shares the permanent vertical load andthe temporary horizontal load, appropriately using both the low-pricedconstruction materials having a relatively low strength, such asimported materials, and the brick wall utilizing the dry type ofconstruction method (the DUP construction method).

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wallstructure of an architecture which comprises a wall mainly sharing thepermanent vertical load and a wall mainly sharing the temporaryhorizontal load, so that these walls can exhibit the structural strengthagainst design loads in cooperation with each other.

It is yet another object of the present invention to improve a wallstructure or a wall construction method in order to enable simultaneityin proceeding with the bricklaying work and the interior finish work,and allow the brick wall to be constructed under a circumstanceunaffected by weather, using the dry type of construction method (theDUP construction method).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wall structure of an architecturehaving an outer wall of a bricklaying structure, in which bricks andmetal plates are stacked and fasteners extending through bolt holes ofthe bricks are tightened so that the vertically adjacent bricks areintegrally connected with each other under prestress of the fasteners,comprising:

an inner wall constructed inside of said outer wall, and a shearreinforcement member connecting the outer wall and the inner wall,

wherein the inner wall is constructed as a wall for supporting avertical load of a roof, an inner end portion of the shear reinforcementmember is fixed to the inner wall, and an outer end portion of the shearreinforcement member is fixed to the outer wall by said fastener,whereby a seismic force acting on the roof and the inner wall istransmitted to the outer wall by means of the shear reinforcementmember.

According to such an arrangement of the present invention, the wallstructure of the architecture is constituted from a constituent (theinner wall) sharing the permanent vertical load such as the dead loadand the live load, and a constituent (the outer wall) sharing the deadload and the temporary horizontal load (the seismic load, the wind loadand so forth). These constituents (the inner and outer walls) exhibit astructural strength in cooperation with each other. Such a structuralconcept significantly differs from that of the conventional brick wallintended to mainly take aesthetic effects (the brick wall is constructedby the wet type of construction method, outside of the inner wall whichshares both the permanent vertical load and the temporary horizontalload, and the brick wall shares only its dead load.) The concept of thepresent invention can be obtained from findings such that the brick wallunder the dry type of construction method (the DUP construction method)exhibits a high horizontal strength beyond expectation at the beginning,and such a concept cannot be obtained from the brick walls made by thewet type of construction method.

Further, according to the arrangement of the present invention, theinner walls can be constructed beforehand, and the roof can beconstructed on the inner wall, and thereafter, bricklaying works for theouter walls can be performed. The bricklaying process of the outer wallsis carried out under an eave of the roof, and therefore, anyapprehension that the bricklaying process is delayed owing to influenceof weather can be removed. In addition, since the inner walls have beenalready constructed before the bricklaying process of the outer walls,the bricklaying works and the interior finish works can be performed atthe same time.

Furthermore, according to the aforementioned arrangement, the temporaryhorizontal load acting on the roof and the inner wall is transmitted tothe outer wall by means of the shear reinforcement member, and the innerwall is blocked from the wind pressure by the outer wall so that thewind pressure does not act on the inner wall. Therefore, the inner wallmay have a strength that is enough to endure a permanent vertical loadsuch as the load of a roof, and apprehensions about problems of theresistance against earthquakes and wind can be removed with respect tothe imported housing materials or the low-priced materials. Thus, it ispossible to construct the inner wall with use of the imported housingmaterials or the low-priced materials, thereby reducing the constructioncosts.

Preferably, an end portion of the shear reinforcement member is securedonto the brick or secured between the vertically adjacent bricks, and itis fixed thereto by the tightening force of the fastener. The other endportion of the shear reinforcement member is tightly fixed to the innerwall. The shear reinforcement member may be composed of a bracket (21)on a side of the outer wall and a bracket (22) on a side of the innerwall wherein the former bracket (21) is secured on the brick or securedbetween the vertically adjacent bricks and the latter bracket (22) istightly fixed to a component of the inner wall. In such an arrangement,the brackets on the outer and inner wall sides are connected with eachother in a stress transferable condition.

The present invention also provides a wall structure of an architecturehaving a double wall structure of an outer wall and an inner wall,

wherein said outer wall has a strength for sharing a dead load of theouter wall and a temporary horizontal load acting on the outer wall andthe inner wall, and said inner wall has a strength for sharing a deadload of the inner wall and a permanent vertical load acting on the innerwall; and

wherein said outer and inner walls are connected with each other by ashear reinforcement member which transmits a shearing force of the innerwall to the outer wall, whereby the temporary horizontal load acting onthe inner wall is transmitted to the outer wall by the shearreinforcement member.

According to such an arrangement of the present invention, the innerwall mainly sharing the permanent load and the outer wall mainly sharingthe temporary load exhibit a structural strength against the design load(the temporary and permanent loads) in cooperation with each other.Therefore, two-by-four wooden panels at low prices, which do not havesufficient aseismatic abilities, can be used for constructing the innerwall.

Preferably, the outer wall is a wall of bricklaying structure, in whichthe bricks and metal plates are stacked and the fasteners extendingthrough the bolt holes of the bricks are tightened so that thevertically adjacent bricks are integrally connected with each otherunder the prestress of the fasteners.

Preferably, a temporary allowable shear force of the outer wall is inproportion to the prestress applied to the fastener. The temporaryallowable shear force Q AS of the outer wall can be determined by thefollowing formula:Q _(AS) =t·j·μ·N _(P) /Awherein

-   -   t: effective thickness of the wall    -   j: distance between centers of tension and compression in the        wall    -   N_(P): total amount of prestress (force) applied to the layer        which causes slippage    -   μ: the coefficient of friction between the brick and a contact        surface of a metal plate (a horizontal reinforcement plate)    -   A: effective cross-sectional area of the wall.

Such a setting allows the brick wall constituting the outer wall to bedesigned as a load bearing wall having an effective aseismatic ability.Further, arbitrary setting of the aseismatic ability or aseismaticeffect of the brick wall can be carried out by appropriate setting ofthe prestress.

From another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofconstructing a wall of an architecture, comprising steps of:

constructing an inner wall for supporting a load of a roof by a dry typeof construction method, constructing a roof structure on the inner wall;and

constructing an outer wall under an eave of the roof structure bystacking bricks and metal plates outside of the inner wall;

wherein the vertically adjacent bricks are integrally connected underprestress of a fastener with each other by tightening the fastenerextending through a bolt hole of the brick, and

wherein a shear reinforcement member, which transmits a temporaryhorizontal load acting on the inner wall to the outer wall, is providedto connect the outer and inner walls with each other when the bricks arelaid up to a predetermined layer.

According to such a construction method, the bricklaying process can beperformed under the eave of the roof without being affected by rainfall.Further, the interior finish work and the bricklaying work can becarried out at the same time, whereby the construction period can beshortened.

The inner wall, which has been constructed beforehand, functions as areference or a ruler for positioning the bricks upon bricklaying, andtherefore, the accuracy of bricklaying work is improved. The shearreinforcement member is fixed onto the upper face of the brick or fixedbetween the bricks by tightening force of the fastener, when the bricksare laid up to a predetermined layer. Therefore, the shear reinforcementmember is fixed to the brick by the tightening force of the fastener forthe bricks, without use of any particular fastener, fixing element, orthe like, and the shear reinforcement member can be tightly fixed to thebrick wall by the tightening force of the fastener.

As an application of the present invention, a construction method of awall is provided, which improves resistance of an existing architectureagainst earthquakes and wind. That is, the present invention provides amethod of constructing a wall of an architecture, comprising steps of:

stacking bricks and metal plates, and tightening fasteners extendingthrough bolt holes of the bricks so as to integrally connect thevertically adjacent bricks with each other under prestress of thefastener, thereby constructing an outer wall of bricklaying structureoutside of a wall of an existing architecture; and

connecting the existing architecture and the outer wall with each otherby a shear reinforcement member when the bricks are stacked up to apredetermined layer, whereby the outer wall supports a temporaryhorizontal load acting on the existing architecture.

According to such a construction method, the temporary horizontal loadacting on the existing architecture is transmitted to the outer wall bythe shear reinforcement member. Since the seismic force acting on theexisting architecture with the outer wall thus constructed istransmitted to the brick wall by means of the shear reinforcementmember, the existing architecture is improved in its resistance againstearthquakes. Since the brick wall blocks the wind pressure which mayotherwise act on the existing exterior wall, the existing architectureis also improved in its wind resistance. Therefore, the existingarchitecture, which lacks in its resistance against earthquakes andwind, is reconstructed or reinforced to have a sufficient resistanceagainst earthquakes and wind by constructing the brick wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a house provided witha wall structure according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views illustrating a bricklayingprocess of an outer wall;

FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view of a brick, and FIGS. 4(B) and 4(C) area perspective view and a front elevational view showing a brick-laidcondition;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a shearreinforcement metal part and a way of setting of the metal part, whichis positioned on the uppermost portions of the outer and inner walls;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of shearreinforcement means provided on a second floor section;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing results of a loading test (loadinghysteresis curve) with respect to a brick wall made by the DUPconstruction method;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing results of a test of an out-of-planerigidity (results of an out-of-plane test) with respect to the brickwall made by the DUP construction method;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a process of construction of atwo-story house, in which a process of construction of foundation andfirst floor base structure is illustrated;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a built-up process of the innerwalls on the first floor;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a process of construction of asecond floor structure;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a process of construction of theinner walls on the second floor;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a process of roofing work;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a bricklaying process for theouter walls of the first floor;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a bricklaying process for theouter walls of the second floor; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a condition in which thebricklaying work is completed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the attached drawings, a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is described hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a house provided withbrick wall structures in accordance with the present invention.

In general, the architecture is constructed from a foundation and floorslab 1, outer walls 2, inner walls 3, a roof structure 4, a second floorstructure 5 and ceilings 6. The outer walls 2 are brick walls laid onthe foundation and floor slab 1 in accordance with the DUP constructionmethod. The inner walls 3 are constructed from wooden panels which areutilized in a two-by-four method for a wooden construction, and it isbuilt up on the foundation and floor slab 1. The roof structure 4 issupported by upper ends of the inner walls 3, and roofing materials areprovided on an upper surface of the roof structure 4. The load of theroof structure 4 acts on the inner walls 3 as a vertical load, which aresupported by the load-carrying capacity of the inner walls 3.

Outside end portions of shear reinforcement metal parts 10 are securedto uppermost end portions of the outer walls 2, and the metal parts 10horizontally extend toward the inner walls 3. An inner end portion ofeach of the metal parts 10 is bent downward at a right angle andconnected to an upper end portion of the inner wall 3 by a bolt 31. Ahorizontal load (seismic force and so forth) acting on the roofstructure 4 and the inner walls 3 is transmitted to the outer walls 2 bymeans of the metal parts 10 and it is supported by resistance of theouter walls 2 against earthquakes.

The second floor structure 5 and the upstairs inner wall 3 are supportedby horizontal members 30, which are connected in a stress transferablecondition with the outer walls 2 on an intermediate level thereof byshear reinforcement means 20. The shear reinforcement means 20 iscomposed of a bracket 21 on a side of the outer wall and a bracket 22 ona side of the inner wall, the bracket 21 being fixed to the outer wall 2and the bracket 22 being fixed to the horizontal member 30. The brackets21, 22 are integrally connected with each other by bolt-nut assemblies(not shown). The horizontal load (seismic force and so forth) acting onthe inner wall 3 and the second floor structure 5 is transmitted to theouter wall 2 and supported by the resistance of the outer wall 2 againstearthquakes.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views illustrating a bricklayingprocess of the outer wall. FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view of the brick,and FIGS. 4(B) and 4(C) are a perspective view and a front elevationalview showing the brick-laid condition;

The bricks A:B for the outer wall 2 are vertically stacked as shown inFIG. 2, and a metal plate 51 (horizontal reinforcement plate) isinterposed between the bricks A:B. The metal plate 51 has a widthsubstantially equal to a width of an upper face of the brick and alength approximately equal to a length of the brick. Each of the metalplates 51 is positioned so as to extend over the adjacent two bricks. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the bricks are laid in a staggering formation,and the vertically adjacent bricks are relatively shifted along acenterline of the wall by a half size of the brick.

A bolt hole 53 of the metal plate 50 interposed between the verticallyadjacent bricks A:B are in alignment with the bolt hole 7 and athrough-hole 8 with a large diameter. A full screw-cut bolt 60 isinserted into the bolt hole 7, the through-hole 8 and the bolt hole 53.The bolt 60 has a height (length) equivalent to the height oftwo-layered bricks A:B, A long nut 70, into which the bolt 60A can bescrewed, is positioned in a hollow section 80 of the through-hole 8.

The plate 51 is positioned on the upper face of the bricks A:B whichhave been already brick-laid. A circular washer 63 and a spring washer62 are placed on the plate 51 in alignment with the bolt hole 53. Anupper end portion of the bolt 60A extends through the bolt hole 53 andthe washers 63, 62 and protrudes upwardly. The long nut 70 is screwed onthe upper end portion of the bolt 60A to an extent of a lower half of aninternal thread 71.

A specific fixing tool 100 as illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 2 isused for tightening the nut 70 onto the bolt 60A. The fixing tool 100 isprovided with a portable driving part 101, a socket part 102 selectivelyengageable with the bolt 60 and the nut 70, and a joint part 103 whichcan integrally connect the proximal portion of the socket 102 with arotary shaft 104 of the driving part 101. The socket part 102 receivesthe nut 70 so as to transmit the torque of the part 101 to the nut 70,thereby rotating the nut 70 in its tightening direction. The nut 70rotates relatively to the bolt 60A to be securely tightened onto theupper end portion of the bolt 60A.

In a succeeding bricklaying step, the brick C for an upper layer isfurther laid on the lower layer brick B. The nut 70 is contained in thehollow section 80, and the metal plate 51 is laid on the brick C, andthen, the brick D of a further upper layer is laid on the plate 51. Abolt 60B is inserted into the bolt hole 7 of the uppermost brick D, anda lower end portion of the bolt 60B is screwed into the nut 70. Theaforementioned fixing tool 100 is also used for tightening the bolt 60Binto the nut 70. The socket part 102 of the tool 100 receives an upperend portion of the bolt 60B and transmits the torque of the driving part101 to the bolt 60B, so that the bolt 60B is rotated in its tighteningdirection. This results in the bolt 60B being securely tightened intothe nut 70.

The brick-laid condition of the bricks A:B:C:D thus constructed is shownin FIGS. 3 and 4. The steps of assembling the bricks, the washers 63,62, the bolts 60 and the nuts 70 are repeatedly carried out for theupper layers above the bricks C:D, whereby a continuous vertical wall isconstructed, which comprises the bricks integrally laid by means of thefastening elements 60; 62; 63; 70.

Tensile stress corresponding to the tightening torque acts as prestresson the bolt 60 screwed into its upper and lower nuts 70, whereascompressive stress acts as prestress on the brick 10 between the upperand lower plates 51. The torque applied to the bolt 60 and the nut 70 inthe upper layer transfers to the bolt 60 and the nut 70 immediatelythereunder, and acts to further tighten the underside bolt and nut.Therefore, a series of connected bolts 60 and nuts 70 functions in sucha manner that the tightening torque of the bolts 60 and nuts 70 in theupper layer is transmitted to the bolts 60 and nuts 70 in the lowerlayer. Thus, the bolts 60 and nuts 70 in the lower layer are furthertightened by a stronger tightening torque as the bricks 1 are laid inthe upper and upper layers. Thus, a considerably enhanced prestress actson the bolts 60 and the bricks 1 in the lower layers, so that therigidity and toughness of the outer walls 2 are considerably improvedagainst horizontal and vertical exciting forces.

The brick D in FIG. 5 is illustrated as an uppermost brick of the outerwall 2. The shear reinforcement metal part 10 is an integral metal platehaving a horizontal portion 11 and a vertical portion 12. The horizontalportion 11 is provided with a bolt hole 13 into which the bolt 60 (60B)can be inserted. The circular washer 63 and the spring washer 62 areplaced on the horizontal portion 11 in alignment with the bolt hole 13.The upper end portion of the bolt 60B extends through the bolt hole 13and the washers 63, 62 and protrudes upwardly. The long nut 70 isscrewed onto the upper end portion of the bolt 60B. For tightening thenut 70, the aforementioned fixing tool 100 is used.

The vertical portion 12 is provided with a bolt hole 14. As shown inFIG. 1, a full screw-cut bolt 31 protruding toward the outer wall isfixed to the upper end portion of the inner wall 3 on the second floor.The vertical wall 12 is positioned on an upper side face of the innerwall 3 so that the protruding portion of the full screw-cut bolt extendsthrough the bolt hole 14 of the vertical portion 12. As shown in FIG. 5,a distal end portion of the full screw-cut bolt 31(shown by phantomlines), which extends through the hole 14, is tightened with a nut(shown by phantom lines). The shearing reinforcement metal part 10 isintegrally connected to the upper end portion of the inner wall 3 on thesecond floor by tightening with the nut. Thus, the upper end portions ofthe outer wall 2 and the inner wall 3 on the second floor are connectedin a stress transferable condition with each other by the shearreinforcement metal part 10.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a structure of shear reinforcementmeans 20 for an intermediate floor, which is provided on a second floorsection.

The shear reinforcement means 20 is located in a level equivalent to alevel of the horizontal member 30, so that the intermediate portion ofthe outer wall 2 and the horizontal member 30 are connected in a stresstransferable condition with each other. The metal bracket 21 ispositioned on the upper face of the brick when the bricks are laid up toa predetermined level. The bracket 21 is constituted from a horizontalportion 24 and an inclined portion 25. The horizontal portion 24positioned on the upper face of the bricks has an overall length suchthat the portion 24 extends over a plurality of bricks. The inclinedportion 25 is inclined upward at a predetermined angle relative to thehorizontal portion 24 and extends toward the inner wall 3. Thehorizontal portion 24 is provided with bolt holes 26 at predeterminedintervals, through which the bolts 60 can be inserted. The upper endportions of the bolts 60 extend through the bolt holes 26 and protrudeupward. The bolts 60 in predetermined positions are tightened with thelong nuts 70 by means of the fixing tool 100, as previously described.The horizontal portions 22 are horizontally fixed onto the bricks by thetightening power of the nuts 70.

A vertical portion 27 of the metal bracket 22 is fixed to a side face ofthe horizontal member 30. Bolts 33 protruding from the side face of thehorizontal member 30 extend through bolt holes (not shown) formed on thevertical portion 27. Distal end portions of the bolts 33 are tightenedwith nuts 34. The vertical portions 27 are integrally secured to thehorizontal member 30 by the tightening power of the nuts 34 and fixedthereto in a stress transferable condition. The inclined portions 28 ofthe metal brackets 22 extend from lower ends of the vertical portions 27toward the outer wall 2. An angle of inclination of the inclined portion28 coincides with the angle of inclination of the inclined portion 25.The inclined portions 28, 25 overlap with each other in a space betweenthe inner and outer walls 3, 2. The overlapping zone of the inclinedportions 28, 25 is provided with bolt holes (not shown) at predeterminedintervals, and those portions 28, 25 are tightly connected with eachother by bolt-nut assemblies 29. The bolt-nut assembly 29 comprises abolt 29 a extending through the bolt holes and a nut 29 b tightlyscrewed onto the bolt 29 a. The bricks are further laid on thehorizontal portions 24.

Thus, the inner wall 3 is connected with the outer wall 4 by the shearreinforcement metal parts 10 and the shear reinforcement means 20, sothat a temporary horizontal load acting on the inner wall and the roofstructure 4, such as a seismic load or a wind load, is transmitted tothe outer wall by the shear reinforcement metal parts 10 and the shearreinforcement means 20. Since the outer wall 4, which is a brick wallmade by the DUP (Distributed and Unbonded Prestress) constructionmethod, has an effect sufficient enough in strength to resist againstthe temporary horizontal load, the inner wall 3 may merely share ahorizontal load.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing results of a loading test (loadinghysteresis curve) with respect to the DUP brick wall which constitutesthe outer wall 2. The loading hysterisis curves as shown by solid linesin FIG. 7 represent relations between the horizontal load acting on thebrick wall and the angle of shear deformation. In the diagram of FIG. 7,loading hysterisis curves of a pure Rahmen frame of steel structure isdepicted as a comparative example by dotted lines. In the diagram ofFIG. 7, an axis of the ordinate indicates Q/Q_(AS) which is a ratio ofthe inplane horizontal load Q to the temporary allowable shear forceQ_(AS), and an axis of the abscissa indicates the angle of sheardeformation. The brick wall used in the experiment was constructed withuse of steel bolts M12, and the prestress of 7.0 kN per bolt was equallyapplied to each of the bolts.

As shown in FIG. 7, the loading hysteresis curves of the brick wall are,in general, analogous to the loading hysteresis curves of the steelstructure, the curves representing steady fusiform loops. It isconsidered that this results from occurrence of slippage between thebrick and the metal plate, which compensates the temporary horizontalload such as the seismic force inside of the dry-materials structurecomposed of the bricks and the plates. Such slippage allows the wall toflexibly respond to the temporary horizontal load, whereby totaldestruction or collapse of the wall can be prevented from occurring.That is, the brick wall highly effects an energy-absorption ability andpossesses a strength against the considerable seismic force so as toprevent the wall from being totally destroyed or collapsed. In order toensure a sufficient safety factor with respect to the ultimate strength,the temporary allowable shear force of the brick wall is set to be insuch a condition that occurrence of a plastic deformation due to theslippage is not permissible (Q/Q_(AS)<1).

The formula for analyzing the shear unit stress and the angle ofdeformation, which is used for design of the brick wall, is as follows:Θ={(H·h _(m) ²/2E _(W) I _(W) −h _(n) ³/6E _(W) I _(W))·A/H+1/G}τ

-   -   Θ: angle of shear deformation of the wall    -   ι: shear unit stress    -   A: effective cross-sectional area of the wall    -   H: height of the wall    -   h_(m): level of a measured point    -   G: shear elastic modulus of the dry-materials structure (the        structure composed of the bricks, plates, bolts and nuts)        wherein        E _(W) I _(W) =E _(b) I _(b) +E I    -   E_(b): Young's modulus of the bolt    -   E: Young's modulus of the dry-materials structure    -   I_(b): moment of inertia for all bolts    -   I: moment of inertia for total cross-sectional area of the        dry-materials structure.

The proportion of the temporary horizontal load shared by each of thewalls of the architecture depends on the angle of shear deformationcaused in response to the shearing unit stress, and so forth. The designtemporary shearing force (inplane sharing) of each of the walls, whichcorresponds to the design seismic force for the design of thearchitecture, is determined, based on the ratio of its share of thetemporary horizontal load.

The formula for design with respect to the inplane shearing of the DUPbrick wall is as follows:_(D) Q _(S) /Q _(AS)≦1   (1)

_(D)Q_(S): design temporary shearing force of the wall

Q_(AS): temporary allowable shear force of the wall (strength againstshearing in the critical state against damage).

“Q_(AS)” (temporary allowable shear force) is obtained by the followingformula (2) (in a case of wall without opening):Q _(AS) =t·j·f _(s)   (2)

t: effective thickness of the wall

j: distance between centers of tension and compression in the wall

f_(s): temporary allowable shearing unit stress of the wall (strengthagainst sharing in the critical state against damage)

wherein j=7d/8 (“d” is the distance between an end of the wall on itscompression side and the center of vertical reinforcement element (thecenter of the bolt) in an end of the wall on its tension side).

“f_(s)” (temporary allowable shearing unit stress) depends on theprestress applied to the bolt and obtained by the following formula (3):f _(s) =μ N _(P) /A   (3)

-   -   N_(P): total amount of prestress (force) applied to the layer        which causes slippage    -   μ: the coefficient of friction between the brick and a contact        surface of the horizontal reinforcement plate (metal plate)    -   A: effective cross-sectional area of the wall

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing results of a test of an out-of-planerigidity (results of an out-of-plane bending test) with respect to abrick wall constituting the outer wall 2. In FIG. 8, bending unit stressis shown, which acts on the brick wall as a result of the horizontalload perpendicularly acting on the brick wall at a right angle.

As the load, e.g., the wind load, perpendicularly acting on the brickwall in an out-of-plane direction is increased, the wall starts to causea bending deformation, so that a narrow gap is formed between thevertically adjacent bricks on the wall face of the tension side (tensileedge open point). In a case where the bending stress exceeding thispoint acts on the inside of the wall, inclination of the curverepresenting the relation between the angle of deformation and thebending unit stress is reduced after it exceeds a rigidity reductionpoint. The curve shows a tendency similar to that of the relationbetween the angle of deformation and the bending unit stress in aplastic deformation range. However, release of the load in theout-of-plane direction causes the wall to return to its initial state,and its residual strain and residual deformation are slight. Thisresults from the prestress applied to the bolt. The results of suchexperiments repeatedly conducted show that the brick wall undergoessubstantial elastic deformation to a marked extent of the deformationangle in response to the temporary horizontal load acting thereon in theout-of-plane direction, such as wind pressure. Thus, it is found that,if an action is added which appropriately transmits the load from thisbrick wall to another brick walls or the like located perpendicularlythereto, the outer wall can be designed so as not to cause the wall tobe totally collapsed or destroyed by seismic force, wind pressure or thelike in the out-of-plane direction.

FIGS. 9 to 16 are perspective views schematically illustrating steps ofconstruction of a two-story house.

In an architecture where the wall construction is in accord with thepresent invention, the inner wall 3 is constructed before the brick wallconstituting the outer wall 2 is constructed, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 16.At the step of constructing the foundation and floor and the step ofconstructing the inner wall on the first floor as illustrated in FIGS. 9and 10, the foundation and floor slab 1 are constructed, and thereafter,the wooden panels 3 a constituting the inner walls 3 of the first floorare successively built up on the foundation and floor slab 1. Then, thesecond floor structure 5 is constructed and the inner wall 3 of thesecond floor is built up by wooden panels similar to those of the innerwall on the first floor, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Further, the roofstructure 4 and the roof are constructed on the inner wall 3 of thesecond floor, as shown in FIG. 13. The inner wall 3 has a load-carryingperformance (a durability against a vertical load) sufficient enough toendure the vertical load, and therefore, the structures made by theinner wall 3, the roof structure 4 and the floor structure 5 of thesecond floor are transitionally stable.

As shown in FIG. 14, the bricks for the outer wall 2 are laid on theouter peripheral zone of the foundation and floor slab 1 in accordancewith the DUP construction method as previously described. Since the roofstructure 4 has been already constructed, the bricklaying work can becarried out without being affected by weather and it is unnecessary toprotect the bricks against rainwater. The bricklaying work is performedunder circumstances below eaves where the work is not affected by arainfall, and therefore, it is possible to avoid a delay of schedule ofthe bricklaying work owing to the rainfall. Further, since the innerwalls 3 have been already constructed, an interior finish work, such asan interior finishing board work, can be carried out simultaneously withthe step of bricklaying work for the outer walls 2. Thus, theconstruction period can be shortened by performing the bricklaying stepand the interior finish step at the same time.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the shear reinforcement means 20 (FIG. 6) aspreviously described is provided when the bricklaying work of the outerwall 2 on the first floor is finished up to the second floor level. Theouter wall 2 and the inner wall 3 are connected with each other by theshear reinforcement means 20. Thereafter, bricklaying work for the outerwall 2 of the second floor is carried out, as shown in FIG. 15. At astage of bricklaying the bricks at the uppermost layer, the upper endportion of the outer wall 2 is connected with the upper end portion ofthe inner wall 3 by the shear reinforcement metal parts 10 (FIG. 5).Thus, the outer walls 2 are constructed on the periphery of thearchitecture.

According to such an arrangement, the inner wall 3 supports the deadload of the inner wall 3, the load of the roof structure 4, the load ofthe second floor, the live load of the architecture, and so forth. Theseismic force acting on the inner wall 3 is transmitted to the outerwall 2 through the shear reinforcement metal parts 10 and the shearreinforcement means 20, and supported by the outer wall 2. Further, thewind pressure does not act on the inner wall 3 since the outer wall 2blocks the wind pressure, which 1o may, otherwise, acts on the innerwall 3. Therefore, since the inner wall 3 may share only the verticalload, the wooden panel with a relatively low strength, which lacks inaseismatic strength and wind resistance, can be used for construction ofthe inner wall 3.

Further, the arrangement according to the present invention isapplicable to reconstruction or reinforcement of existing architectureswhich lack in aseismatic strength and wind resistance. Normally, thearchitecture exists in a state that its walls share both the permanentloads such as dead load and live load, and the temporary load such asseismic force and wind pressure. However, the existing architecture isdeteriorated for long-term use, and its strength is decreased. Further,many architectures constructed in the past have often been provided withinsufficient strength against earthquakes and wind, compared to recentarchitectures. Assuming that the walls 3 and the roof structure 4 asshown in FIG. 13 are walls and a roof of an existing architecture, anapplication of the present invention is described hereinafter, whereinthe arrangement of the present invention is applied to reconstruction ofthe existing architecture.

In the existing architecture as shown in FIG. 13, the existing walls 3support the permanent vertical load, such as the dead load of the walls3 themselves, the load of the roof structure 4, the load of the secondfloor and the live load, and further, the walls 3 support the temporaryhorizontal load, such as the seismic force and the wind load. In orderto reduce the temporary horizontal load acting on the architecture, theouter walls 2 of the bricklaying structure is newly constructed outsideof the architecture in accordance with the DUP construction method.Specifically speaking, the foundation 1 for supporting the lowermostlayer of the bricks is constructed along the lower end of the existingwalls 3 as shown in FIG. 13, and the outer walls 2 of the bricklayingstructure is built up as illustrated in FIGS. 14, 15 and 16. In theprocess of constructing the outer walls 2 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15,the shear reinforcement metal parts 10 and the shear reinforcement means20 are installed on the brick walls 2, and the existing walls 3 areconnected with the outer walls 2. A seismic force acting on the existingwalls is transferred as stress to the newly constructed outer walls 2 bythe shear reinforcement metal parts 10 and the shear reinforcement means20, and supported by the outer wall 2. The wind pressure does not act onthe existing walls 3, since the outer walls 2 block the wind pressurewhich may, otherwise, act on the existing walls 3. Therefore, theexisting architecture with the outer walls 2 thus constructed isreleased from the temporary horizontal load such as the seismic forceand the wind pressure, and the architecture may merely support thepermanent load. Thus, the existing architecture is reinforced byconstructing the outer walls 2 of the bricklaying structure.

Although the present invention has been described as to a preferredembodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, but may becarried out in any of various modifications or variations withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanyingclaims.

For insurance, the shear reinforcement metal parts 10 and the shearreinforcement means 20 may be further provided in a level between thesecond floor level and the roof structure level, or in a level betweenthe second floor level and the foundation level.

Further, the bolt holes of the shear reinforcement metal parts 10 andthe brackets 21,22 can be designed to be loose holes or slots forworkability of installation of the parts 10 and the brackets 21,22;relative movements of the parts 10 and the brackets 21,22 to the walls2,3; movements of the brackets 21, 22 relative to each other; and soforth.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, a wall structure of an architecturecan be provided, which appropriately uses both the brick wall utilizingthe DUP construction method and the relatively low-strength orlow-priced construction materials, such as materials of foreignspecifications or low-priced specifications. The brick wall that usesthe DUP construction method has a resistance against earthquakes andwind enough to share the temporary horizontal load acting on thearchitecture, differently from the conventional brick wall. Since thebrick wall made by the DUP construction method shares the dead load andthe temporary horizontal load, the inner wall may share the dead loadand the permanent vertical load. Therefore, it is possible to constructthe inner wall with use of imported housing materials or low-pricedmaterials, thereby reducing the construction costs.

Further, according to the wall structure or the construction method ofthe present invention, the construction period can be shortened bysimultaneously proceeding with the bricklaying work and the interiorfinish work. In addition, the bricklaying process can be carried outunder circumstances situated beneath the eave of the roof structurewithout being affected by weather.

Furthermore, the wall structure according to the present invention isapplicable to any type of wall structure. In such a case, the outer wallhas strength for sharing its dead load and the temporary horizontal loadacting on the outer and inner walls, whereas the inner wall has strengthfor sharing its dead load and the permanent vertical load acting on theinner wall. The load of the roof and upper floor and the permanentvertical load such as a live load are supported by the inner wall. Theseismic load acting on the inner wall is transmitted to the outer wallby means of the shear reinforcement member and supported by the outerwall. Further, the wind load merely acts on the outer wall. Thus, theinner and outer walls exhibit the structural strength against the designload in cooperation with each other, and particularly, the seismic orwind load, i.e., the temporary horizontal load does not act on the innerwall, and therefore, the inner wall can be constructed with the use ofrelatively low-strength or low-priced construction materials, such asthe materials of foreign specifications or low-priced specifications.

1. A wall structure of an architecture having an outer wall of abricklaying structure, in which bricks and metal plates are stacked andfasteners extending through bolt holes of the bricks and the metalplates are tightened so that the vertically adjacent bricks areintegrally connected with each other under prestress of the fasteners,comprising an inner wall constructed inside of said outer wall and ashear reinforcement member made of a metal connecting the outer wall andthe inner wall with each other, wherein the inner wall is constructed asa wall for supporting a vertical load of a roof, an inner end portion ofthe shear reinforcement member is fixed to the inner wall, and an outerend portion of the shear reinforcement member is positioned on saidbrick or between the bricks and fixed to the brick by a tightening forceof said fastener, whereby a seismic force acting on the roof and theinner wall is transmitted to the outer wall by means of the shearreinforcement member.
 2. The wall structure as defined in claim 1,wherein said shear reinforcement member has an overall length such thatthe member extends over the bricks.
 3. The wall structure as defined inclaim 1, wherein said shear reinforcement member is composed of abracket (21) on an outer wall side secured onto said brick or securedbetween the bricks and a bracket (22) on an inner wall side tightlysecured to a component of the inner wall, and wherein the brackets onthe outer and inner wall sides are connected with each other in a stresstransferable condition.
 4. A wall structure of an architecture having adouble wall structure of an outer wall and an inner wall, said outerwall being a wall of a bricklaying structure in which bricks and metalplates are stacked and fasteners extending through bolt holes of thebricks and the metal plates are tightened so that the verticallyadjacent bricks are integrally connected with each other under prestressof the fasteners, wherein said outer wall has a strength for sharing adead load of the outer wall and a temporary horizontal load acting onthe outer wall and the inner wall, and said inner wall has a strengthfor sharing a dead load of the inner wall and a permanent vertical loadacting on the inner wall; and wherein said outer and inner walls areconnected with each other by a shear reinforcement member made of ametal which transmits a shearing force of the inner wall to the outerwall, and an outer end portion of the shear reinforcement member ispositioned on said brick or between the bricks and fixed to the brick bya tightening force of said fastener, whereby the temporary horizontalload acting on the inner wall is transmitted to the outer wall by theshear reinforcement member.
 5. The wall structure as defined in claim 4,wherein said shear reinforcement member has an overall length such thatthe member extends over the bricks.
 6. The wall structure as defined inclaim 1, wherein a temporary allowable shear force of said outer wall isin proportion to the prestress applied to the fastener.
 7. The wallstructure as defined in claim 6, wherein the temporary allowable shearforce Q_(AS) of said outer wall is determined by the following formula:Q _(AS) =t·j·μ·N _(P) /A wherein t: effective thickness of the wall, j:distance between centers of tension and compression in the wall, N_(P):total amount of prestress (force) applied to a layer which causesslippage, μ: the coefficient of friction between the brick and a contactsurface of a horizontal reinforcement plate, A: effectivecross-sectional area of the wall.
 8. A method of constructing a wall ofan architecture, comprising steps of: constructing an inner wall forsupporting a load of a roof by a dry type of construction method,constructing a roof structure on the inner wall; and constructing anouter wall of bricklaying structure under an eave of the roof structureby stacking bricks and metal plates outside of the inner wall; whereinthe vertically adjacent bricks are integrally connected with each otherunder prestress of a fastener by tightening the fastener extendingthrough bolt holes of the brick and the metal plate, and wherein a shearreinforcement member made of a metal, which transmits a temporaryhorizontal load acting on the inner wall to the outer wall, ispositioned on the brick and fixed to the brick by a tightening force ofsaid fastener when the bricks are laid up to a predetermined layer,whereby the outer and inner walls are connected with each other by saidshear reinforcement member.
 9. The method as defined in claim 8, whereinsaid shear reinforcement member has an overall length such that themember extends over the bricks.
 10. The method as defined in claim 8,wherein said outer and inner walls are connected with each other by saidshear reinforcement member when the bricks are laid up to a floor levelof the architecture and a level of an uppermost end portion of the innerwall.
 11. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein said shearreinforcement member is composed of a bracket (21) on an side of theouter wall which is secured on the brick or secured between the bricksand a bracket (22) on an side of the inner wall which is tightly securedto the inner wall, and wherein the bracket on the outer wall side isfixed to the brick, the bracket on the inner wall side is fixed to theinner wall, and the brackets on both sides are integrally connected witheach other.
 12. A method of constructing a wall of an architecture,comprising steps of: stacking bricks and metal plates, and tighteningfasteners extending through bolt holes of the bricks and metal plates soas to integrally connect the vertically adjacent bricks with each otherunder prestress of the fastener, thereby constructing an outer wall ofbricklaying structure outside of a wall of an existing architecture; andpositioning a shear reinforcement member made of a metal on the brickand fixing the shear reinforcement member to the brick by a tighteningforce of said fastener when the bricks are stacked up to a predeterminedlayer, so that the existing architecture and the outer wall areconnected with each other by said shear reinforcement member, whereby atemporary horizontal load acting on the existing architecture issupported by the outer wall.
 13. The method as defined in claim 12,wherein said shear reinforcement member has an overall length such thatthe member extends over the bricks.
 14. The method as defined in claim12, wherein said outer wall and said wall of the existing architectureare connected with each other by said shear reinforcement members, whenthe bricks are laid up to a floor level of the existing architecture anda level of an uppermost end portion of the wall of the existingarchitecture.
 15. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein said shearreinforcement member is composed of a bracket (21) on an outer wall sidesecured onto said brick or secured between the bricks and a bracket (22)on an inner wall side tightly secured to the existing architecture, andwherein the bracket on the outer wall side is fixed to the brick, thebracket on the inner wall side is fixed to the wall of the existingarchitecture, and the brackets on the outer and inner wall sides areintegrally connected with each other.
 16. (canceled)
 17. The wallstructure as defined in claim 4, wherein a temporary allowable shearforce of said outer wall is in proportion to the prestress applied tothe fastener.
 18. The wall structure as defined in claim 17, wherein thetemporary allowable shear force Q_(AS) of said outer wall is determinedby the following formula:Q _(AS) =t·j·μ·N _(P) /A wherein t: effective thickness of the wall, j:distance between centers of tension and compression in the wall, N_(P):total amount of prestress (force) applied to a layer which causesslippage, μ: the coefficient of friction between the brick and a contactsurface of a horizontal reinforcement plate, A: effectivecross-sectional area of the wall.